The garbage time bomb that Bengaluru was sitting on has exploded again. The villagers in Mandur near Bangalore, who had agreed to tolerate the mess for an year, have started protesting as they did not see any concrete action taking place to clear the mountain of garbage in Mandur. Starting the night of May 31, 2014, no waste is being allowed to be dumped in Mandur by the villagers, until further negotiations solve the problem temporarily.

Besides, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has proposed the closure of Mandur waste disposal unit, following the failure of BBMP to comply with the Municipal Soild Waste Management Rules meant to promote responsible and scientific disposal of the waste produced in Bengaluru.

Unsegregated waste dumped in Mandur landfill. Pic: Anand Yadwad

A letter dated May 27th, written by KSPCB to BBMP mentions the following points:

After Mavallipura waste disposal unit was closed, BBMP identified Chikkanagamangala village, Dodda Belavangala, Aruda, Togarighatta, Seegehalli, Kannahalli, Gorur and Kodiyala, but hasn’t started any waste management activities in these places. As a result, most of the garbage produced is going to Mandur and Terrafirma.The situation hasn’t changed a bit since July 2012.

BBMP has submitted an application on May 6th, to renew the permission of Mandur unit for January to December 2014. However, the environment officer of Mahadevpura division who inspected the units has reported that there have been serious violations in the waste disposal unit, in the segregation, storage and transportation of the waste. There is no waste disposal unit here. The leachate has polluted the groundwater in the area. Mosquitoes, dogs and birds have become a menace in the area. There are no garland canals around the collection area. There is no care taken regarding air and water pollution. KSPCB rules have been violated here, for which KSPCB had issued a notice to BBMP on April 24.

M/s Srinivas Gayathri Resource Recovery Company is working unscientifically, and the actual performance is way below the actual capacity. Health problems have increased because of this. For the last two years the company has been functioning like this. There is no change.

Media reports say that open illegal dumping of garbage has increased in the city. There is no household waste segregation. Garbage transfer and transport are also unscientific. The vehicles used are unregistered, and not in good condition many a times.

As per the Municipal Solid Waste rules, 85% of the solid waste should be re-used or composted, while only 15% can go into the dump. But now, 95% waste is going to the dump.

The BBMP has also not implemented the rules that pertain to no-development zone around the landfill.

In this regard, KSPCB, acting under environment protection act – 1986, has proposed to direct Urban Development Department to initiate proceedings against BBMP officials responsible for noncompliance. KSPCB has also proposed to shut down the waste disposal unit at Mandur, and to initiate action against BBMP for polluting water. The letter from KSPCB seeks a response from BBMP within 15 days after which formal actions will be initiated.

Here’s how you can escape the garbage crisis and not contribute to landfill:

Minimise the waste produced at home.

Cook as much as necessary, don’t waste food.

Put the vegetable peels and green waste in the flower pots or plants or vegetable garden, where it will eventually disintegrate without causing stench.

Put the food waste in a place where stray dogs, donkeys or birds can eat, so that it doesn’t start smelling. Tying it up in a plastic makes it unusable and untouchable to anyone.

Start segregating waste at home today. It is easy – you need only two bins – one for wet waste – another for dry waste.

Always take your own bag to market.

Think before you buy. Most wrappers of chocolates, biscuits, thermocol and many other household waste generated is ‘inert’ and cannot be recycled. Producing such waste increases the burden on the landfills.

Reuse whatever you can.

Take away the recyclables from your dry waste and keep it separate. Sell it to the nearby recycler or Dry Waste Collection Centre in your ward.

Keep a separate bin for sanitary waste in the toilet. Wrap the sanitary napkin or diaper in paper and cross it with red, so that the garbage auto driver doesn’t open it.

Start composting your food waste.

If you are a resident of an apartment where segregation at source is in place, get the community to have small biogas units that will produce energy which can be used in common areas.

Villagers not to allow dumping

M A Sridhar, a resident of Mandur, says that the villagers can’t live there anymore. The villagers residing near Mandur will protest from today for an indefinite period of time, aiming to stop the incessant dumping of garbage by 400-500 trucks every day.

In 2012, during the last few days of former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar’s term, pourakarmikas went on strike for nonpayment of salary, while the villagers near two landfill sites in Mandur and Mavallipura agitated against the huge pile accumulating. This choked Bengaluru and the city was flooded with garbage. Now, with the villagers deciding to go on indefinite strike, the scenes from 2012 are threatening to repeat in Bengaluru.

Sridhar says the agreement then signed by Shettar with Mandur villagers gave an year’s time to BBMP, to clear the heap of waste from Mandur and to move the dumping site to some other location.

The agreement got terminated on May 31 2014, claimed Sridhar. He said, “We have given them enough time to clear the waste, but they didn’t do anything. Now we won’t allow the dumping of garbage here.”

Nearly 4000 people live in the 15 villages near Mandur. Everyday around 400 trucks dump unsegregated garbage in the landfill. The garbage mountain is growing taller than Himalaya mountains, said Sridhar.

He complained that the along with air pollution the quality of water is becoming worse. “Our children are suffering from skin disease. Two men from the village are admitted for pneumonia at Mathikere, M S Ramaiah Hospital and St. John Hospital,” he explained.

“There is a nexus between the BBMP officials and garbage contractors. They make huge business out of this. But what about us?” he questioned.

“Bangalore should stop dumping their waste in our village. We don’t want any other facilities from the government, just stop this dumping activity. The stench is polluting the air so much that many of us are falling ill and children are suffering from skin diseases. Our relatives have also stopped visiting us,” he said.

“We will protest till the government listens to us. Even if we have to go to jail, we are ready for it,” Sridhar declared.

KCDC not accepting waste anymore

On KSPCB’s order, dumping of garbage at Mavallipura was disallowed, but it continued at Mandur. Bangalore’s garbage was transported to two places: Mandur and Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC).

The wet waste processing unit at the KCDC has stopped accepting waste on the demand of Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy and the residents living near KCDC. (Read to know more)

Venkatesh, Solid Waste Management Chief Engineer of BBMP, said, “KCDC has been closed on temporary basis till they clear the waste piled up in their campus. BBMP Commissioner is negotiating with Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy and the residents living near KCDC.”

Venkatesh refrained from commenting on what plan does BBMP have. When asked about the issue, BBMP Commissioner Lakshmi Narayana told Citizen Matters: “Nothing is going to happen, no one is going on any strike. You should not assume things. We are dumping waste on our own land, who is going to stop us? Waste will be gone to Mandur and KCDC only.”

District Minister plunges in to action

Bangalore District In-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy presided over a meeting held between Mahadevpura MLA Arvind Limbavali and Srinivas Gowda, a representatives of Mandur who had threatened to protest.

Ramalinga Reddy told Citizen Matters: “Both of them (Limbavali and Srinivas Gowda) wanted to stop the dumping of garbage in Mandur. We convinced them to give us time about a year, till four bio-methanisation projects on hand start functioning. We will definitely stop the waste from dumping in Mandur once the plant starts. Not only stop, we will completely clean the area and make it liveable.”

He added, “Till tonight, the garbage will be dumped at Mandur only. Tomorrow once the protest starts, Mayor, Commissioner and myself will go there and convince the villagers for some time.”

When asked about the KSPCB sending a show cause notice to BBMP officials, he said, “The Pollution Control Board is right in taking such action. However, we need time to rectify it.”

3 Comments

BBMP administrator and the team should be open to learn the garbage collection and it’s disposal from their counterparts in other capital cities of India .
It is not that Bangalore only produce garbages , other state capital have system in place and over and above have strong civic sense with utmost sense of responsibility towards society .
I have no hesitation to say BBMP’s half hearted approach towards basic civic facility of collecting garbage and it’s disposal. They must understand that in entire world Municipal Board’s first prime job is to manage garbage , sewerage , cleanses of the roads , streets etc.

I wish to add a point to the ‘Tips’ in the box: You need to keep 3 bins (or some container), not just 2 – one for dry waste (you can hang a large bag in your utility area for this), one for wet waste (this has to be a bin), and one for sanitary waste (this also needs to be a small bin or bucket depending on the amount of waste generated). The sanitary waste bin should be clean and dry at all times. Sanitary items like diapers, pads, bandages etc should be wrapped / put in a paper bag marked with a red cross and then kept in the sanitary waste bin till they are picked up. The red cross will ensure that the person picking up the waste will know that this is sanitary waste and will not open the bag.

BBMP, KSPCB and Blr admin should spend their time and energy in getting the system of segregation at source, waste sorting stations and localised neighbourhood composting facilities running, rather than temporary respite through promises to Mandur that they most likely will not be able to keep.